CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 216: Acceptance

As Ash crouched down, nearly touching the floor, he clutched his stomach while bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Ava’s face paled, her eyes widening in disbelief and astonishment, completely taken aback by Ash’s response.

Ash couldn’t stop laughing, finding Ava’s flabbergasted expression utterly amusing. He desired to clarify his answer and explain himself, but his laughter overwhelmed him to the point where he couldn’t utter a word. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ava’s expression twisted with a mix of realization and frustration as she comprehended that Ash had been teasing her all along. "You were joking! That’s why you’re laughing!" she exclaimed, unable to hide her exasperation.

She couldn’t help but facepalm herself, berating her own gullibility. "I should have known better!" she muttered, shaking her head in disappointment but soon chuckled.

"I-I apologize," Ash managed to say amidst his laughter, attempting to regain his composure. "I never expected such a reaction from you. It was meant to be a harmless joke, but I didn’t anticipate you taking it seriously. Your expression was priceless, though!" Ash admitted, still finding amusement in the situation.

Ava scoffed in response. "Well, you said it with a straight face, so how was I supposed to know it was a joke?" she retorted.

Ash took the puppy back from Ava, holding him gently. "This little fellow is far more adorable than that maniac. I would never name him after Henry," Ash commented.

He then added, "His name is Beethoven, and he’s a Labrador Retriever," before gently placing the puppy on the floor to let him explore the penthouse.

"Let’s head to the kitchen. I’m sure you must be famished," Ash suggested, leading the way as they walked toward the kitchen. Ava took the opportunity to observe her surroundings, taking note of the decor in Ash’s penthouse. It was her first time visiting his place, and she was intrigued by what she discovered.

To her surprise, Ash’s taste in interior design wasn’t what she had expected. The style of his space leaned toward a modern farmhouse aesthetic but with a touch of masculinity.

She couldn’t help but wonder if this was influenced by his upbringing on a farm or simply a personal preference he had developed over time.

"Did you grow up on a farm?" Ava couldn’t resist asking, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Why do you ask?" Ash responded, focused on unpacking the groceries that Mary had purchased for him.

"I noticed some elements and decor here that give off a farmhouse vibe," Ava explained.

"Oh, that... It’s actually inspired by Amy’s old mansion. Her mother wanted to recreate the ambiance of their farmhouse in their mansion. So when Amy sold that property, I decided to renovate my penthouse to make it feel like a home for Mary and her whenever they visit," Ash revealed.

Ava couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain in her chest upon hearing his response. "Everything you do is for Amy... When will you start putting yourself first?" she pondered silently, her inner thoughts reflecting the growing ache within her.

"I see... Since you’ll be cooking, can I help by making a dessert?" Ava suggested, attempting to shift the focus of their conversation.

"Of course, the kitchen is all yours. What do you have in mind?" Ash replied, continuing to prepare the ingredients for their dinner.

"Nothing too extravagant, just a simple rum panna cotta," Ava responded.

Ash smirked and teasingly asked, "Are you planning to get me drunk in my own house?" His question caused a blush to rise on Ava’s cheeks, which Ash couldn’t help but notice. "Relax, I was just joking," he reassured her with a grin.

As they worked together, the atmosphere in the kitchen became relaxed, with occasional moments of conversation. Eventually, they sat down at the dining table to enjoy the meal they had prepared.

"I had no idea you could cook so well," Ava complimented Ash as she savored a bite of his Saffron Cream Pasta with Pan-Fried Cream Dory.

Ash smiled warmly in response. "Thank you. Cooking has been a passion of mine for a long time. It’s a way for me to unwind and express my creativity," he shared.

Ava nodded appreciatively, impressed by his culinary skills. They continued their meal, savoring the flavors and relishing the comfortable company they found in each other’s presence.

"I would say the same about you," Ash responded, his voice filled with sincerity. "And thank you for sharing your panna cotta with me."

Ash smiled and playfully scooped up a spoonful of the dessert, holding it out to Ava. For a moment, Ava hesitated, her heart fluttering with mixed emotions. But Ash’s warm gaze and gentle encouragement convinced her to open her mouth and accept the bite.

As the creamy sweetness touched her lips, Ava couldn’t help but savor the moment. It was a simple gesture, but it held a deeper meaning for her. It was a moment of connection, a shared experience that left her yearning for more.

As Ava took a deep breath and regained her composure, she repeated her self-assuring mantra once again. "Relax, Ava. Calm yourself down. He only sees you as a friend and nothing more."

It had become a familiar refrain, a way to keep her expectations in check and guard her heart against any misguided hopes. She knew that maintaining their friendship was paramount, and she didn’t want to jeopardize it by letting her feelings get in the way.

With each repetition of her mantra, Ava reminded herself to cherish the friendship they had built and to be content with that. She would continue to support Ash and be there for him, even if it meant suppressing her own desires.

"Oh! Before I forget..." Ash swiftly rose from his seat and retrieved something from the beverage fridge beneath the island counter.

"I bought this wine a while back. I had intended to use it to celebrate Amy’s work promotion when she was still a writer, to commemorate her success..." Ash spoke with a touch of innocence in his voice.

Ava couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the mention of Amy once again. She kept her thoughts to herself, though, and focused on what Ash had to say.

"But I’ve decided to open it today for a different kind of celebration, I suppose," Ash continued.

"A celebration? What are we celebrating?" Ava inquired.

"We are celebrating my acceptance of my place in Amy’s life," Ash chuckled. "It’s ironic, really. I had to destroy everything including our friendship before realizing that all I ever wanted was for her to be happy. It still hurts, don’t get me wrong, but I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that she will never be mine."

He sighed softly, his gaze fixed on the bottle of wine in his hands, lost in his thoughts.

"Now she’s married, and even though she lost the opportunity to have her first child, I believe she’ll have another one, whether it’s soon or in the future. But that child will never be mine," Ash concluded, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and longing.

Ava listened attentively, her heart aching for Ash’s unrequited feelings. She could sense the depth of his emotions, the bittersweet acceptance of a love that could never be.

"I’m sorry, Ash," she said softly, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his arm. "It’s not easy to let go of someone you deeply care about. But I admire your strength in accepting the reality of the situation. I applaud you on that. You deserve happiness too, even if it means finding it in a different way."

Ash offered her a grateful smile, his eyes reflecting a blend of gratitude and sadness.

"Thank you, Ava," he murmured. "Your understanding means a lot to me. I hope someday Amy and Mary would find it in their hearts to accept me in their lives again. And perhaps, in time, I will find a different kind of happiness, as you say."

They shared a quiet moment, their thoughts lingering in the air between them. The weight of unspoken emotions hung unmistakably in the room, underscoring the complexities of their connection.

Eventually, Ash cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Shall we continue with our celebration?" he suggested, offering a gentle nod toward the bottle of wine.

Ava nodded in agreement, knowing the need to shift the focus and embrace the present moment. They both understood the unspoken boundaries that existed between them, yet their bond remained resilient.

Together, they raised their glasses, toasting to acceptance, friendship, and the journey of finding happiness in unexpected places.

Their little celebration got interrupted when Ash’s phone rang which he immediately answer. A frown on his face was evident even though he moved a little farther away from Ava. She couldn’t help but wonder who was calling Ash for him to make that expression.

"Did something happen? You don’t look happy," Ava said as soon as Ash returned to his seat.

"That was Vanessa, she found something. Let’s finish first before we check that email that she sent."

Ava nodded and the two focused on eating their meal.